Permanent waving heater



Dec. 3, 1935; H, N, DURHAM 2,022,657

PERMANENT WAVING HEATER Original Filed Oct. 10, 1933 Patented Dec. 3, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE PERMANENT WAVING HEATER Application October 10, 1933, Serial No. 692,949 Renewed February 28, 1935 11 Claims. (Cl. 21924) The present invention relates to permanent waving and more particularly to new and useful improvements in permanent waving heaters adapted for electrolytic heating of a wound tress of hair.

Objects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in part hereinafter and in part will be obvious herefrom, or may be learned by practice with the invention, the same being realized 10. and attained by means of the instrumentalities and combinations pointed out in the appended claims.

The invention consists in the novel parts, constructions, arrangements, combinations and im- 15 provements herein shown and described.

' The accompanying drawing, referred to herein and constituting a part hereof, illustrate one embodiment of the invention, and together with the description, serve to explain the principles of 20 the invention.

Of the drawing:

' Figure l is a side elevation of an illustrative form of the invention, certain parts being broken away; 7

5 Figure 2 is a side elevation of a modified embodiment of the invention;

Figure 3 is a side elevation of the embodiment shown in Figure 2 as applied to a wound tress of hair during the heating process;

30- Figure 4 is an elevation showing the manner in which a plurality of the heaters of the present invention may be nested for shipment.

The present invention has for its object the provision of a novel and improved electrolytic 35 permanent waving heater. Another object is the provision of a light permanent waving heater adapted for electrolytic heating of a wound tress of hair, which may be easily applied to the wound tress.

40: In certain respects the present invention is an improvement of the device shown in the patent to Marcel, No. 1,643,783, although in other re- .spects it is not so limited and, as distinguished from the Marcel patent, it is particularly adapt- 45 ed for use with current at extremely low voltages.

In accordance with the illustrative embodiment of the invention, the heater comprises a tapered tube of absorbent material which is relatively stiff or'rigid when dry, but is plastic when mois- 50 tened with water or hair waving lotion, and after being slipped over the wound tress of hair supported on a curling rod, may be deformed to shape it generally tothe shape of the wound tress and thereby secure more intimate contact between to the heater and the tress- On the inside of the tube, and in electrical contact with its inner face, is provided a tubular electrode of perforated metal shaped to fit the-interior of the tube.

The outer electrode is likewise preferably formed to substantially the shape of the exterior 5 of the absorbent tube and is in electrical contact therewith, so that current will flow between the electrodes and through the electrolyte absorbed by the absorbent tube.

At the larger end of the tube, the absorbent material preferably extends beyond the two electrodes and may be crimped and clamped about the lower end of the wound tress to prevent dripping of any excess lotion on the scalp.

The tubes of absorbent material are preferably moistened by standing them on end in a container having a small amount of lotion therein, and the absorbent material may be provided with an annular band which is non-absorbent, positioned close to the lower end of the electrodes to prevent capillary moistening of the drip catching portion of the tube. The lotion is gradually absorbed by the tube by capillarity until the tube is thoroughly moistened up to the non-absorbent band.

For facilitating electrical connection of the heaters with a source of low voltage current, the narrow .end of the tube is preferably slit for a considerable distance, and after moistening, the tube may be bent back along the slit to expose a portion of the inner electrode and thereby provide exposed contacts for both the inner and outer electrodes.

The taper of the tubular heaters is preferably sufficient to permit them to be nested for shipment, thereby economizing on the size of cartons required and rendering the heaters less bulky as shipped.

It will be understood that the foregoing general description and the following detailed description as well are exemplary and explanatory of the invention but are not restrictive thereof.

Referring now in detail to the illustrative embodiment of the invention shown in the accompanying drawing, the heater [0 comprises a tapered tube of absorbent material i2, such as relatively heavy absorbent paper or felt, having suflicient rigidity to maintain its tubular shape against ordinary handling. Within the tube, and in electrical contact with the inner side of the absorbent material is a layer of relatively thin, flexible foraminous metal electrode M, such as perforated lead foil, which may be secured to the absorbent material by small dots of adhesive. On the outside of the tube and in contact with the outer surface of the absorbent is a layer of relatively thin metal l6, such as lead foil, which serves as the outer electrode.

The inner and outer electrodes may be of substantially the same length, and are preferably somewhat shorter than the absorbent tube, the absorbent tube l2 projecting considerably below the bottoms of the electrodes to provide an annular portion l8 which may be crimped around the bottom of the wound tress of hair and secured in that position to provide a drip catching portion, thereby preventing leakage or dripping of lotion onto the scalp.

Preferably, the absorbent tube is provided with a non-absorbent annular portion 20 near the bottom of the electrodes and between them, to prevent moistening of the drip catching portion by capillarity from the main body portion of the absorbent tube. For this purpose this annular portion 20 of the absorbent material may be treated with paraffin or other waterproof material to form a barrier to the passage of lotion.

In order to facilitate electrical connection with the inner and outer electrodes, the upper or narrow end of the tube is preferably slit, axially of the tube as at 22, for a considerable distance, along which the absorbent material, inner and outer electrodes may be folded back as shown in Figure 3, to expose the inner electrode [4 and permit easy electrical contact therewith.

As shown in Figure 4 of the drawing, the heaters I0 may be nested for shipment, and for this purpose the taper of the tubes is preferably approximately as shown in the drawing, this shape also conforming to the general shape of a wound tress of hair and tending to insure intimate contact between the heater and the wound tress during the heating operation. Also the tapered shape of the tube facilitates slipping it on over the curling rod and the wound curl, and making it easier to form a closed steam chamber after the tube is in position.

In use, a heater is first stood on its narrow end in a receptacle containing a small amount of a suitable hair waving lotion which is an electrolytic conductor and preferably has a relative high conductivity. After the main body portion of the tube has absorbed a suflicient quantity of the hair waving lotion, the tube is slipped over a curling rod 24 having a tress of hair 26 wound thereon, and is pushed down until the larger end or bottom of the tube is slightly below the bottom of the curling rod. In this position, the bottom of the tube may be crimped tightly around the bottom of the rod and wound tress, and held in that position by means of a suitable clamp 28.

The body portion of the tube, including the electrodes, is then crushed by tightly grasping it in the hand and it is thereby deformed and pressed against the wound tress and rod. The heater may then be folded back along the slit 22 to expose the inner electrode at these points, and in that condition, each heater is connected with a suitable source of power 30, preferably low voltage alternating current. The current passes between the electrodes 14 and I6, through the 10- tion with which the absorbent tube I2 is moistened, and the resistance of this lotion to the electrolytic conduction of the current generates sufficient heat to quickly bring the lotion to boiling. As soon as the lotion boils, the steam and ammonia, or other hair waving vapors, issue through the perforations of electrode l4 and are condensed on the wound tress of hair 26, heating the hair and permanently waving it.

The deforming and compressing of the tube also enhances the electrical conductivity thereof because the electrodes are thus brought closer together and into more intimate contact with the liquid in the absorbent material. Furthermore, by being able to shape and compress the tube about the hair, the tube itself will form an effective steam sealing chamber to confine the heat and vapor about the hair.

After the heating has been continued for a sufiicient length of time, the heaters are removed, 10 and the hair may be rinsed and further treated in the usual manner.

The invention in its broader aspects is not limited to the specific mechanisms shown and described but departures may be made therefrom 5 within the scope of the accompanying claims without departing from the principles of the invention and without sacrificing its chief advantages.

What I claim is 20 1. An electrolytic permanent waving heater including in combination a tube formed of absorbent material which is relatively stiff when dry and plastic when moistened, a foraminous electrode within the tube and an electrode on the 5 outside of the tube, said electrodes being in contact with opposite faces of the absorbent material and easily deformable so as to permit shaping of the heater over a wound tress of hair.

2. An electrolytic permanent waving heater including in combination a tube formed of absorbent material, a foraminous electrode within the tube and an electrode on the outside of the tube, said electrodes being in contact with opposite faces of the absorbent material, said absorbent 5 material extending considerably below said electrodes to provide a seal at one end of the heater.

3. An electrolytic permanent waving heater including in combination a tube formed of absorbent material, a foraminous electrode within the 40 tube and an electrode on the outside of the tube, said electrodes being in contact with opposite faces of the absorbent material, said absorbent material being formed with a non-absorbent annular portion to prevent passage of liquid by capillarity beyond a certain point.

4. An electrolytic permanent waving heater including in combination a tube formed of absorbent material, a foraminous electrode within the tube and an electrode on the outside of the tube, said electrodes being in contact with opposite faces of the absorbent material, said absorbent material being formed with a non-absorbent annular portion near one end thereof, said absorbent material extending beyond said portion and said electrodes to provide an absorbent seal at one end of the heater while the absorbent material at the other end of the heater is exposed and may be immersed in liquid to supply liquid to the absorbent material between the electrodes by capillarity.

5. An electrolytic permanent waving heater including in combination a tube formed of pliable absorbent material, a foraminous electrode within the tube and an electrode on the outside of the tube, said electrodes being flexible and in contact with opposite faces of the absorbent material, and a slit at one end of the tube whereby the electrodes and absorbent material may be turned back to expose the inner electrode and facilitate contact therewith.

6. An electrolytic permanent waving heater including in combination a tapered tube formed of absorbent material, a foraminous electrode within the tube and an electrode on the outside of the tube, said electrodes being in contact with opposite faces of the absorbent material, the taper of the tube being suflicient to permit nesting of the tubes for shipment and to accommodate the tube to the general shape of a wound tress of hair.

'7. An electrolytic permanent waving heater including in combination a tapered tube formed of absorbent material which is relatively stiff when dry and plastic when moistened, a forminous electrode within the tube and an electrode on the outside of the tube, said electrodes being in contact with opposite faces of the absorbent material, said absorbent material extending beyond the foraminous electrode at the larger end of the tube to provide a seal at the lower end of the wound tress.

'8. An electrolytic permanent waving heater including in combination a tube formed of absorbent material which is relatively stiff when dry and plastic when moistened, an electrode within the tube and an electrode on the outside of the tube, said electrodes being in contact with opposite faces of the absorbent material and easily deformable so as to permit shaping of the heater over a wound tress of hair.

9. An electrolytic permanent waving heater including in combination a tube formed of absorbent material which is relatively stiff when dry and plastic when moistened, a foraminous electrode within the tube and an electrode on the outside of the tube, said electrodes being in contact with opposite faces of the absorbent material, said absorbent material extending beyond the foraminous electrode at one end of the tube to provide an unheated sealing margin at the lower end of the wound tress.

10. An electrolytic permanent waving heater including in combination a tube formed of absorbent material which is relatively stiif when dry and plastic when moistened, an electrode within the tube and an electrode on the outside of the tube, said electrodes being incontact with opposite faces of the absorbent material and easily deformable so as to permit shaping of the heater over a wound tress of hair, said absorbent material extending beyond the inner electrode at one end of the tube to provide an unheated margin at the lower end of the tube.

11. An electrolytic permanent waving heater including in combination a tube formed of absorbent material which is relatively stiff when dry and plastic when moistened, a foraminous electrode within the tube and an electrode on the outside of the tube, said electrodes being in contact with opposite faces of the absorbent material and easily deformable so as to permit shaping of the heater over a wound tress of hair, said absorbent material extending beyond the inner electrode at one end of the tube to provide an unheated margin at the lower end of the tube.

HOBART N. DURHAM. 

